Padded Shoulder Strap for Transferring a Load to a Wearer&#39;s Shoulder

ABSTRACT

A padded shoulder carrier for transferring a load to a carrying person&#39;s (T) shoulder has a carrier strap ( 4 ) and a padded part ( 5 ) which has a first lateral region ( 6 ) arranged between the carrier strap ( 4 ) and the shoulder and a second lateral region ( 7 ) arranged between the carrier strap ( 4 ) and the carrying person&#39;s (T) neck, at least part of the carrier strap ( 4 ) being connected to a part of the first lateral region ( 6 ) in such a manner that the carrier strap ( 4 ) and the padded part ( 5 ), in the parts which are connected to one another, together have an elasticity in the longitudinal direction of the carrier which is lower than the elasticity of the second lateral region ( 7 ) of the padded part ( 5 ) in the longitudinal direction of the carrier. To avoid pressure points on the shoulder even at high loads, the carrier strap ( 4 ) is only connected in a part delimited up to a side edge ( 9 ) of the carrier strap ( 4 ), which side edge faces away from the carrying person&#39;s (T) neck, to that part of the first lateral region ( 6 ) of the padded part ( 5 ) which lies opposite this side edge ( 9 ). In addition, in the carrying state, the carrier strap ( 4 ) outside these parts rests loosely on the first lateral region ( 6 ) of the padded part ( 5 ).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of International Application No.PCT/DE2006/00363, filed 27 Feb. 2006, which published as WO 2006/119718,and claims priority to DE 20 2005 007 336.9, filed 9 May 2005. Thecontents of the aforementioned International application and Germanapplication are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a padded shoulder strap for transferring a loadto a wearer's shoulder, having a strap band and a padding part which hasa first lateral region arranged between the strap band and the shoulderand a second lateral region arranged between the strap band and the neckof the wearer, at least part of the strap band being connected to partof the first lateral region such that, in the interconnected parts, thestrap band and the padding part together have a level of elasticity inthe longitudinal direction of the strap which is lower than theelasticity of the second lateral region of the padding part in thelongitudinal direction of the strap.

BACKGROUND

German Utility Model No. 202 02 242.0 discloses a shoulder strap. Thisshoulder strap has an embodiment (FIG. 10) in which a strap band isfastened on a band-like padding part which runs between the strap bandand a wearer's shoulder, the band-like padding part being wider than thestrap band and having a lateral region which is located closer to thewearer's neck and is not covered by the strap band. The strap band issewn to the band-like padding part, in which case it is known frompractice for the strap band to be sewn to the band-like padding partonly along its side edge which is directed towards the wearer's neck,whereas at other locations of the strap band, in particular on the sideedge which is directed away from the wearer's neck, there is no fixedconnection to the band-like padding part. Consequently, outside its sideedge which is directed towards the wearer's neck, the strap band, whenbeing worn, rests loosely on the padding part. By virtue of the strapband being fastened on the padding part along that side edge of thestrap band which is directed towards the wearer's neck, the elasticityof the padding part is reduced not just in the region of the seam, butover the entire region which is covered by the strap band. Thecushioning effect which is hoped for as a result of the padding part isthus reduced at least in that region of the padding part which iscovered by the strap band. Although the known shoulder strap has ahigher level of elasticity in a neck-side region than in an arm-sideregion, the wearer does not feel the wearing comfort of the knownshoulder strap to be optimum if the shoulder strap is subjected to aparticularly high load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is thus to develop the shoulder strapmentioned in the introduction such that, even under high loads, it doesnot result in any unpleasant pressure marks on the wearer's shoulder.

This object of the invention is achieved in that it is only in a partwhich is limited to that side edge of the strap band which is directedaway from the neck of the wearer that the strap band is connected tothat part of the first lateral region of the padding part which islocated opposite this side edge, and outside these parts the strap band,when being worn, rests loosely on the first lateral region of thepadding part.

The advantage of the shoulder strap as claimed in the invention is thatthe cushioning effect is provided uniformly virtually over the entirewidth of the first and second lateral regions of the padding part, sincethe padding part is connected to the strap band only along that sideedge of the strap band which is directed away from the wearer's neck.The shoulder strap as claimed in the invention is distinguished by anextremely high level of wearing comfort even under high loads. Thewearer's comfort is promoted particularly by the fact that thecushioning effect of the padding part in the region of the neck sideedge of the strap band is unrestricted since, there, the strap band,when being worn, now rests loosely on the padding part. A stiffening ofthe shoulder strap as claimed in the invention is concentrated on thearm side edge of the strap band, that is to say at a location of theshoulder where, in view of the anatomical features, the shoulderprovides a relatively hard rest for the shoulder strap.

The padding part is preferably in panel form and it has a side edgewhich is directed away from the neck of the wearer and runs parallel to,and in the immediate vicinity of, that side edge of the strap band whichis directed away from the neck of the wearer. Tensile forces to whichthe shoulder strap is subjected by a load can thus only be introduced bythe strap band into the padding part along the arm-side edge of thestrap band since it is only there that the strap band is connected tothe padding part. In all other regions in which the strap band coversthe padding part, the strap band only rests loosely on the padding part.

Those two side edges of the strap band and of the padding part which aredirected away from the neck of the wearer are preferably covered by asurround band which is folded in a U-shaped manner, runs in thelongitudinal direction of the strap and is fastened on the strap bandand the padding part. The surround band further reduces the elasticityof the shoulder strap in the region of the arm-side edge of the strapband, as a result of which the wearing comfort of the shoulder strapincreases yet further.

The surround band is preferably fastened on the strap band and thepadding part by a seam which, at the same time, connects the strap bandand the padding part directly to one another. This provides acomfortably fixed connection between the strap band and the padding partin the region of the surround band.

That side edge of the strap band which is directed towards the neck ofthe wearer is preferably free, which results in the elasticity of thestrap band on the neck-side edge of the strap band not being restrictedin comparison with the elasticity in the region between the two sideedges.

It is particularly advantageous for the wearing comfort of the shoulderstrap if the second lateral region of the padding part has a width thatis 0.5 to 1.5 times the width of the strap band. The second lateralregion of the padding part, this region not being covered by the strapband, thus has a sufficiently wide bearing surface on the musculaturewhich rises up in the direction of the wearer's neck, and reactsparticularly sensitively to pressure.

The shoulder strap as claimed in the invention is particularly suitableas part of an item of corsetry, in particular of a bra for large busts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to thefollowing description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, whichis also illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a wearer wearing a bra with two shoulder straps as claimedin the invention,

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged illustration of one of the two shoulder strapswhich can be seen in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the top side of a portion of the shoulderstrap which is shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the underside of the shoulder strap which isshown in FIG. 2, and

FIG. 5 shows a section along line V-V through the shoulder strap whichis illustrated in FIG. 3, the illustration exaggerating the size andthickness of the individual parts of the shoulder strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a garment in accordance with the presentinvention. A bra 1 which is illustrated in FIG. 1 has two shoulderstraps 2 as claimed in the invention which are guided over the shouldersof a wearer T and are of identical, albeit mirror-inverted, design. Eachshoulder strap 2 has a strap band 4, which is connected to the frontpart 3 and the rear part (not illustrated) of the bra 1, and apanel-form padding part 5, which is more or less trapezoidal, as can beseen from FIG. 4. The padding part 5 has a first lateral region 6, whichis arranged between the strap band 4 and the shoulder of the wearer T,and a second lateral region 7, which is arranged between the strap band4 and the neck of the wearer T. The strap band 4 thus runs above thefirst lateral region 6 of the padding part 5, while the second lateralregion 7 is located laterally alongside the neck side edge 8 of thestrap band. An arm side edge 9 of the strap band 4 runs parallel to, andin the immediate vicinity of, an arm side edge 10 of the padding part.The two arm side edges 9 and 10 of the strap band 4 and of the paddingpart 5, respectively, are thus located precisely one above the other.

It is only along its arm side edge 9 that the strap band 4 is fixedlyconnected to the padding part 5, along the arm side edge 10 of thelatter, by an arm side seam 11, by means of which, at the same time, anarm side surround band 12 which is folded in a U-shaped manner andcovers the two side edges 9 and 10, is fastened on the strap band 4 andthe padding part 5. Between the arm side seam 11 and the neck side edge8, the strap band 4 rests loosely on the padding part 5.

The padding part 5 is bounded by the arm side edge 10 and a further edge13 which, for its part, is covered by a neck side surround band 14 whichis folded in a U-shaped manner and is fastened on the padding part 5,along the further edge 13, by a neck side seam 15. The neck sidesurround band 14 has two end portions 16, which are indicated by dashedlines in FIG. 4 and are arranged between the shoulder-side leg of thecross-sectionally U-shaped arm side surround band 12 and the undersideof the strap band 4. The arm side seam 11 also connects the arm sidesurround band 12 to the end portions 16 of the neck side surround band14.

The neck-side edge 8 of the strap band 4 is free and runs loosely overthe neck side surround band 14.

Both the strap band 4 and the padding part 5 as well as the surroundbands 12 and 14 are each produced from an elastic textile material, itbeing possible for these materials to differ in respect of constructionand elasticity.

The padding part 5 is restricted in elasticity in the longitudinaldirection of the strap only in the region of the seam 11. It is likewisethe case that the elasticity of the strap band 4 in the longitudinaldirection of the strap is restricted only in the region of the arm sideseam 11. In the region between the arm side seam 11 and the neck-sideedge 13 of the padding part 5, the padding part 5 is uniformly elasticin the longitudinal direction of the strap. Moreover, the padding parthas a uniform cushioning effect in this region.

It is noted that while in the embodiment described above, the paddedshoulder straps are attached to a garment which is an item of corsetry,such as a bra 1, the garment may likewise be an item of swimwear, adress, or a pair of trousers.

1. A padded shoulder strap for transferring a load to a wearer'sshoulder, having a strap band (4) and a padding part (5) which has afirst lateral region (6) arranged between the strap band and theshoulder and a second lateral region (7) arranged between the strap bandand the neck of the wearer (T), at least part of the strap band beingconnected to part of the first lateral region (6) such that, in theinterconnected parts, the strap band (4) and the padding part (5)together have a level of elasticity in the longitudinal direction of thestrap which is lower than the elasticity of the second lateral region(7) of the padding part in the longitudinal direction of the strap,characterized in that it is only in a part which is limited to an armside edge (9) of the strap band (4), the arm side edge (9) beingdirected away from the neck of the wearer (T), that the strap band (4)is connected to that part of the first lateral region (6) of the paddingpart (5) which is located opposite the arm side edge (9), and outsidethese parts the strap band, when being worn, rests loosely on the firstlateral region (6) of the padding part (5).
 2. The padded shoulder strapas claimed in claim 1, wherein: the second lateral region (7) of thepadding part (5) has a width that is 0.5 to 1.5 times a width of thestrap band (4).
 3. The padded shoulder strap as claimed in claim 1,wherein: the padding part (5) is in panel form and has an arm side edge(10) which is directed away from the neck of the wearer (T) and runsparallel to, and in the immediate vicinity of, the arm side edge (9) ofthe strap band (4).
 4. The padded shoulder strap as claimed in claim 3,wherein: the padding part (5) has a generally trapezoidal shape with twoparallel sides; and the arm side edge (10) of the padding part (5) isthe longer of the two parallel sides.
 5. The padded shoulder strap asclaimed in claim 3, wherein: the padding part (5) is bounded by the armside edge (10) and by a neck side edge (13); the neck side edge (13) iscovered by a neck side surround band (14) which is folded in a U-shapedmanner, is fastened on the padding part (5) and has two end portions(16) which are covered by an arm side surround band (12) covering thetwo arm side edges (9, 10) of the strap band (4) and of the padding part(5), the end portions (16) of the neck side surround band (14) arefastened, on the one hand, on the arm side band (12) covering the twoside edges (9, 10) of the strap band (4) and the padding part (5) and,on the other hand, on the strap band (4); and the strap band (4), whenbeing worn, rests loosely on the neck side surround band (14) outsidethe end portions (16).
 6. The padded shoulder strap as claimed in claim5, wherein: at least one of the arm side surround band (12) and the neckside surround band (14) comprises an elastic textile material.
 7. Thepadded shoulder strap as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the two arm sideedges (9, 10) of the strap band (4) and of the padding part (5) arecovered by an arm side surround band (12) which is folded in a U-shapedmanner, runs in a longitudinal direction of the strap and is fastened onthe strap band (4) and the padding part (5).
 8. The padded shoulderstrap as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the arm side surround band (12) isfastened on the strap band (4) and the padding part (5) by an arm sideseam (11) which, at the same time, connects the strap band (4) and thepadding part (5) directly to one another.
 9. The padded shoulder strapas claimed in claim 7, wherein: the neck side edge (8) of the strap bandwhich is directed towards the neck of the wearer (T) is free.
 10. Thepadded shoulder strap as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the arm sidesurround band (12) covering the two arm side edges (9, 10) of the strapband (4) and of the padding part (5) continues along a portion of thestrap band (4) which projects beyond the padding part (5) in thelongitudinal direction of the strap.
 11. The padded shoulder strap asclaimed in claim 1, wherein: the strap band (4) has a portion projectingbeyond the padding part (5) in the longitudinal direction of the strap;and said portion projecting beyond the padding part (5) is connected toone from the group consisting of an item of clothing, a pocket, and arucksack.
 12. The padded shoulder strap as claimed in claim 11, wherein:said item of clothing is one from the group consisting of an item ofcorsetry, an item of swimwear, and a pair of trousers.
 13. The paddedshoulder strap as claimed in claim 12, wherein: at least one of thestrap band (4) and the padding part (5) comprises an elastic textilematerial.
 14. A garment comprising a pair of padded shoulder straps,each padded shoulder strap comprising: a strap band (4) having an armside edge (9) and a neck side edge (8); and a padding part (5) having anarm side edge (10) and a neck side edge (13), the padding part having afirst lateral region (6) underlying the strap band and a second lateralregion (7) extending past the neck side edge (8) of the strap band andterminating in said neck side edge (13); wherein: only that portion ofthe strap band (4) which is proximate the strap band's arm side edge (9)is connected to a corresponding portion of the first lateral region (6)proximate the padding part's arm side edge (10), with the remainder ofthe strap band (4) resting loosely on the first lateral region (6) ofthe padding part (5); and in those portions where the strap band (4) andthe first lateral region (6) are connected, the strap band (4) and thepadding part together have a level of elasticity in a longitudinaldirection of the shoulder strap which is lower than a level ofelasticity of the second lateral region of the padding part in saidlongitudinal direction of the shoulder strap.
 15. The garment accordingto claim 14, wherein: a width of the second lateral region (7) of thepadding part (5) is 0.5 to 1.5 times a width of the strap band (4). 16.The garment according to claim 14, wherein: the padding part (5) has agenerally trapezoidal shape with two parallel sides; and the paddingpart's arm side edge (10) is the longer of the two parallel sides. 17.The garment according to claim 14, wherein: the padding part (5) is inpanel form; and the padding part's arm side edge (10) runs parallel to,and in the immediate vicinity of the strap band's arm side edge (9). 18.The garment according to claim 14, further comprising: an arm sidesurround band (12) which is folded in a U-shaped manner and covers thetwo arm side edges (9, 10); wherein: the arm side surround band (12)runs in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder strap and is fastenedon the strap band (4) and the padding part (5).
 19. The garmentaccording to claim 18, further comprising: an arm side seam (11) which:fastens the arm side surround band (12) on the strap band (4) and thepadding part (5); and directly connects the strap band (4) and thepadding part (S) to one another.
 20. The garment according to claim 18,wherein: the strap band's neck side edge (8) is free.
 21. The garmentaccording to claim 18, wherein: a portion of the strap band (4) projectsbeyond the padding part (5) in the longitudinal direction of theshoulder strap; and. the arm side surround band (12) covers said portionof the strap band that projects beyond the padding part (5) in thelongitudinal direction of the shoulder strap.
 22. The garment accordingto claim 18, wherein: the neck side edge (13) is covered by a neck sidesurround band (14) which is folded in a U-shaped manner and is fastenedon the padding part (5); the neck side surround band (14) has two endportions (16) which are covered by the arm side surround band (12); andthe two end portions (16) are fastened to the arm side surround band(12) and to the strap band (4).
 23. The garment according to claim 22,wherein: at least one of the arm side surround band (12) and the neckside surround band (14) comprises an elastic textile material.
 24. Thegarment according to claim 14, wherein: the strap band (4) has a portionthat projects beyond the padding part (5) in the longitudinal directionof the strap; and said portion that projects beyond the padding part (5)is connected to a remainder of the garment.
 25. The garment according toclaim 24, wherein the garment is one from the group consisting of anitem of corsetry, an item of swimwear, a dress, and a pair of trousers.26. The garment according to claim 25, wherein: at least one of thestrap band (4) and the padding part (5) comprises an elastic textilematerial.